May 24, 2019
Low income housing units that serve veterans recognized
Navy veteran Robert McFarland lived in the woods near Bacon Park for years after his discharge. He later connected with Veterans Administration services, which helped place him with a variety of temporary housing units. Today, McFarland, 47, is one of the residents of Poplar Bluff Villas, a new group of housing complexes on Eugene Boulevard owned by the Missouri National Guard Foundation...
Donna Farley Associate Editor
Navy veteran Robert McFarland lived in the woods near Bacon Park for years after his discharge. He later connected with Veterans Administration services, which helped place him with a variety of temporary housing units.
Today, McFarland, 47, is one of the residents of Poplar Bluff Villas, a new group of housing complexes on Eugene Boulevard owned by the Missouri National Guard Foundation.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the site Thursday afternoon, which has 48 units of low income housing dedicated to serving veterans, their families and the disabled. The first residents began moving in by January.
About 40 of the units are currently occupied, with 25 percent for residents with special needs. Of the remaining units, 80-85 percent have been filled by veterans or family members of veterans, according to organizers.
“This is the first project where we initiated a veterans preference in order to give veterans affordable housing,” said Scott Englund, a veteran and president of the MNGF. “We would not have been able to complete this undertaking without the support of the city of Poplar Bluff providing our zoning needs, Missouri Housing Development Commission providing $525,000 in federal and state tax credits per year for 10 years and the permanent financing of the loan for $325,000…”
Sugar Creek Capital purchased the tax credits, generating over $7.8 million in equity, Englund said, thanking other partners, including the local group Cape Arrowhead. Cape Arrowhead, which works with veterans, has an office on site and is the lead referral agency for the housing complex.
Poplar Bluff Mayor pro tem Steve Davis and city attorney Mark Richardson were also thanked for their efforts.
A Senate resolution was presented to the MNGF by state Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff).
It is important to make sure veterans and their families have safe, good places to live where they feel safe, Libla said.
Veterans have a wide range of obstacles and problems, not the least of which is housing, said state Rep. Jeff Shawan (R-Poplar Bluff).
“We’ve got to work to protect our veterans, who put themselves in harms way on our behalf, and for our freedoms,” Shawan said. “The least we can do is provide affordable housing. We’ve got to fight homelessness in our community and this is a giant leap forward.”
The MNGF did a needs assessment before deciding to locate the complex in Poplar Bluff, said Dr. Joel Denney, a member of the MNGF board. Any proceeds from the effort go to support the projects of the MNGF, which include a second low income housing project in Cameron, Missouri. It would serve veterans and seniors.
“This thing has nothing to do with any of the people who spoke here today,” Chris Hite, president of Sugar Creek, said later. “A guy named Robert (McFarland) who … worked on explosives, this is who it’s for. Ask somebody who is living here where they used to live, and you’ll get the reason for this program, Robert lived in some (bad) housing, dangerous, landlords weren’t taking care of it and he could barely afford it. … That’s why this program exists.”
Passage of zoning changes which allowed the construction of the complex were a controversial topic for the Poplar Bluff City Council before construction started, because the site is designated for low income housing.
Vietnam veteran Herbert Breece was among those who went to the city council to advocate for the program. Breece toured units following the ribbon cutting ceremony and said he hopes to see more.
“I think that it is a wonderful thing to be done for the veterans,” said Breece, of Ellsinore, and a member of Vietnam Veterans of America Post 1056.
The complex provides washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves and refrigerators in the two bedroom apartments. There are also a playground and a walking track.
Equine programs are located on site for the Warriors in Transit program, as well as Rebecca’s Riders for autistic and developmentally disabled young people, any youth at risk, battered women and any clients referred by mental health professionals.
The property is overseen by Maco Management.
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